Open Recommendations

We recommend that the Office of Programs periodically test Program Evaluation Sections’ internal controls.

We recommend that the Office of Programs increase the frequency in which data is extracted from Railroad Retirement Board systems for the universe identification of Railroad Retirement Act initial cases for the Program Evaluation Section’s quality assurance sample review to increase the completeness of initial award identification.

We recommend that the Office of Programs revise the sample selection process for Railroad Retirement Act initial cases to ensure that the proper award actions are identified to achieve its intended purpose to assess the accuracy of the recurring payment amount at the annuity beginning date.

We recommend that the Office of Programs revise and implement its quality assurance policies and procedures to ensure the statistical validity of sample results.

We recommend that the Office of Programs provide training to Program Evaluation Section staff related to statistical sampling to ensure that individual case results and overall results are statistically valid.

We recommend that the Office of Programs document the complete sampling methodology in its quality assurance reports and quality assurance policies and procedures.

We recommend that the Office of Programs design and implement an annual sample of benefit payments without recent adjudicative activity to provide a more complete payment accuracy rate and to help further protect trust funds.

We recommend that the Office of Programs revise its process for documenting benefit payment amounts used to compute its payment accuracy rates to ensure its accuracy.

We recommend that the Office of Programs revise its quality assurance policies and procedures to ensure that the three required reviews are all conducted and documented for the same award action.

We recommend that the Office of Programs improve internal controls for quality assurance cases to ensure that corrective actions are initiated and completed in accordance with its policies and procedures.

We recommend that the Office of Programs revise its policies to obtain greater assurance of accuracy and integrity by independently validating Railroad Retirement Act performance results provided by other RRB organizational units.

We recommend that the Office of Programs revise the applicable quality assurance checklist used for segregation of duties compensating control to include verification that the annuitant’s name matches the name on the examination order.

We recommend that the Office of Programs conduct the name match assessment for fiscal year 2014 through the current period to determine accuracy of the reported results. If reported results were erroneous, update as appropriate.

(U) Rec. A: Report is Classified.

(U) Rec. C: Report is Classified.

(U) Rec. C: Report is Classified.

(U) Rec. C: Report is Classified.

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Office of Personnel Security and Suitability should determine the actual cost of the security clearance work it performs for other Government agencies in order to fully recoup its expended funds, in accordance with the Economy Act and Department policy.

Complete the rulemaking process for HUD's single-family note sales program.

Track all inmates in single-cell confinement and monitor, as appropriate, the cumulative amount of time that inmates with mental illness spend in restrictive housing, including single-cell confinement.

Identify all forms of restrictive housing utilized throughout its institutions and ensure that all local policies are updated to reflect standards for all inmates in restrictive housing consistent with established nationwide policies.

Conduct a comprehensive review of U.S. Penitentiary Lewisburg's Special Management Unit that addresses the staffing, treatment, conditions of confinement, and performance metrics of the program.